Basketball Players
Parent and child pretend to be basketball players, practicing running with a ball, bouncing, throwing toward a target, and retrieving. The agent coaches the parent to observe gross motor coordination, directional running, overhand throwing mechanics, and persistence in retrieving thrown objects — building foundational ball-handling skills through imaginative play.
Opens a guided voice session in TogetherTime.
What you'll need
Clear floor space for running. Have a soft ball (size of a grapefruit or small soccer ball) and a laundry basket or tape to mark a target on the wall at your child's chest height. Parent and child should start together a few steps back from the target.
How it works
- 1~30s
Let's start by pretending to run to the basket like real players! Hold the ball together with your child — you can each put a hand on it — and say 'Let's run to the basket!' Run together a few steps toward the target. Watch how your child moves. Does they run with purpose toward the basket, or does they wander or hesitate? Notice if their body is oriented toward the target as they runs. Tell me what you see.
Watch for: Child runs with clear direction and purpose toward a target while holding or attending to a ball.
- 2~40s
Now let's practice throwing! Stand with your child facing the target. Show them how to hold the ball with both hands, bring it back near your ear, and throw it overhand toward the basket. Let your child try. Watch their arm motion closely. Does they bring the ball back and then forward in an overhand arc? Does they release it toward the target, even if it doesn't go far?
Watch for: Child uses an overhand throwing motion — bringing ball back near head/shoulder and propelling it forward with arm extension.
- 3~35s
After your child throws the ball, let's see what happens next. Does they immediately go after the ball to get it back, or wait for you to retrieve it? Encourage them by saying, 'Go get the ball so we can shoot again!' Watch their persistence. Does they chase it down even if it rolls away, or give up easily? This shows developing executive function — following through on a task.
Watch for: Child actively retrieves a thrown ball to continue the activity, showing persistence and task completion.